The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-14
WOMEN WHO GAMBLE.
Pictures from the Fashionable Casinos of
Aix-Ies. Bal

Correspondence Bost ton Herald.
There two casinos at Aix-les -Ba1ns, and,
of little horses. The more serious" Of the two
Casinos the Cercle d'Aix-les- Balns, has replaced
the former inferior sale de ieu with new and
sumptuous apartment which fairly rivals that
of the gay resort of the place. POLITICALLY and
significantly denominated the Villa des Fieurs.
Tne Villa des FIeurs is fast" and though
ladies occasionally wander in there out of curl
osity, it is scarcely the place to which any self
respecting young woman of the present
day would take her own mother AS
often happens, however, the surroundings are
prettier and more fascinating than those of the
Cercle. Only man is vile. The two casinos,
though taking in about 1000 900 francs apiece
each season. are not supposed to make much
money, and do not declare dividends They are
philanthropic institutions, designed for the
amusement of the populace. The salaries of
operate and theatrical troupe and or an orches-
ira and band, the cost of fire. works and i'm
provements presumed to eat up the profits
OF the restaurants. the performances aud the
gambling tables. The Cercle dAix-les-Bains
pays Colonne really enormous figure for the
services of himself and orchestra, of the
finest in Europe, but it is hard to believe that
money is not made over and above EXPENSES at
the Villa des Fleurs where expenditure on the
part of the public is lavish and whore they gam
BILE for high stakes.
The gaming table is a far more liberal place
than the table d'hote. for in the sale dc leu re-
spectacle but curious matrons rub shoulders
with frisky and painted young persons who
would never be allowed to dine in their company
at any hotel. One becomes used to everything
and existence in continental watering place
soon accustoms Americans and English to the
spectacle of duchess putting down a ten franc
piece side by side with the golden louis of a
cote, and of n respectable and church going citi
zen of the United States rubbing shoulders at
cards with the cut-throat adventurer. A cele
brated English comedian and well-known
singer. American by birth, English by reputa-
ton, Italian by name, fairly haunts the green
cloth. replacing the excitement of active life be-
fore the footlights with the hope and fears that
hang upon a ninespot. The Most desperate
gambler at Axles- Bains is, however, a woman,
Greek by birth. This devotee of the green
cloth does not take her seat at the table,
count of her sex. but plays over the shoulders
of a sterner man in 100-franc bills, and she risks
500 francs with the same impertur liability that
she might put down 700 sous. This woman.
who is immensely rich, has a face that painter
might take as an unloveiy model. The ex preston
is that of ferret. and the ratlike countenance
has it's resem biance to a rodent intensified by
nervous twtching of the tightly compressed,
thin lips and the conical chin The small eyes
stare from under mass of grizzed gray hair;
the skin is red and guiltless of the softening ap
plicstion of anything like poudre de riE. This
celebrity, who changes from the tables of the
Cercle d'Aix les Bains to those of the Villa des
Fleurs and back again. does not devote much at
tention to her costume. It consists of black
dress. not too well made, black jet bonnet,
and, like the true gambler that she is, gloves.
While she plays she keeps shifting and counting
the white and blue 100-franc notes When called
upon to give change she takes gold from a purse;
but rule, she despises the metal aud deals
only in paper.